The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-01-06
A Shabby Trick.

A deaf old man. wearing shabby
clothes and riding in market wagon
was slowly toiling up long hill with a
load of potatoes, drawn by poor, bony
horse. Near the foot of the hill stood
the school-house, around which the boys
were playing. AS the old man passed,
one of them said:
Lets go and raise the end board of
that old mans wagon and let the pota-
toes drop out Won't it be jolly to see
him stare when he gets to the top of the
hill and finds them gomez"
.'All right" says one and another;
let's 90.
These boys soon caught up with the
wagon, quietly raised the end board
and the potatoes dropped rapidly out
and were scattered along the dusty road.
The last bell rang. and in minute the
scholars were sitting quietly in their
seats. Delaying the opening exercise.
the teacher said:
"As | came into the school-house l
saw an old man picking up potatoes
from the dusty road. / want to tell
you something about him. At the be-
ginning of the civil war he and his only
son, young man of twenty-three, Ell
listed in the army and fought in many
battles, until at Gettysburg he was dam
gerously wounded and his son killed.
1t was six mouths before he could leave
the hospital to come home, and what
he suffered in trying to live and get
we'll can not be told. Since that time
he has had many aches and pains, and
it has been very hard for him to earn
enough to support his wife and himself
He is very lame, and has to move slow
ly; it will take him long time to pick
up his potatoes People say that be
never did a mean thing in his life, and
he is the kindest man l know"
At this point one of the three boys
raised his hand and said he would like
to go out and help the old man to pick
up his potatoes. The two other boys
quickly raised their hands. too. and Of
fered to go. The teacher looked pleased
and gave them permission. then the
school went on quietly with its after
noon work.
1t was hot day early in September.
very dry and dusty, and the sun poured
down upon the three boys as they hur.
ried up the hill to the old man. who
was leaning with one hand upon the
wagon-box to rest.
Mister" said one of the boys, as he
stepped bravely up, 1--WE have done a
mean thing, and we are willing to say
so. We lifted the end board of your
wagon to let the potatoes drop out.
Now, if you will sit down in the shade
of that tree, we will pick up all your
potatoes for you." The old man laid
his trembling hand upon the head of
the boy, and looking from one to the
other, said: 'Well! we'll! my dear
boys, you have done brave thing.
Never be ashamed to tell the truth or
confess fault. will gladly sit down
and rest, for am very tired"
The boys then took the horse and
wagon and spent a good hour of hard
work in undoing mischief that took
them but a few minutes to plan and
carry out.
When the BOYS returned to the school
the teacher said nothing to them; every
thing went on as usual, only there
seemed to be an uncommon thoughtful
ness and attention. The pupils had
learned life long lesson. Its value
consisted in the object lesson of the
three boys willingly doing what they
could do to repair the evil effect OF 4
mean action. Christian Weekly.